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Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky Committed $950,000 to Improving Health, Strengthening the State's Communities in 2011

"We are committed to improving health and quality of life in Kentucky, the state our company has called home since 1938," said Deb Moessner, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. "We know Kentucky faces many public health challenges. By working hand in hand with health non-profits and community leaders, we're confident that we're making a difference and that healthier days are ahead for Kentucky."

Through its State Health Index - a compilation of public health measures - and Healthy Generations program, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its foundation work to identify the health issues most in need of attention and then direct charitable support and volunteer efforts toward improving those areas. Major areas of focus for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky in 2011 were promoting youth health, promoting physical activity, preventing unnecessary preterm births, and reducing the rate of cardiovascular disease.

Projects and organizations receiving support from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation this year included:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Triple Play program -- $15,000 to support and expand the wellness program in Kentucky.
• March of Dimes CenteringPregnancy -- $50,000 to support a group-based prenatal care program that works to reduce preterm births and improve birth outcomes.

Through the company's Associate Giving Campaign in November, associates pledged $153,000 to six beneficiaries - American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Community Health Charities, Feeding America, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and United Way. Campaign pledges are backed by a 50 percent match from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, bringing the total pledged to the health organizations to nearly $229,000.

During the company's annual Community Service Day in April, associates and their families volunteered at several not-for-profit organizations that are dedicated to improving the quality of life in communities across Kentucky.

"As Anthem associates, we believe we have an obligation to the communities outside our office doors," said Moessner. "We have a mission to improve the health of our fellow Kentuckians. I'm proud that Anthem associates gave so much personally and financially last year in pursuit of that mission."

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation

Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem's inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to reduce the number of uninsured as well as organizations and nonprofit charities that promote the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company's annual associate giving campaign and its parent foundation provides a 50 percent match of associates' campaign pledges. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. To learn more about the Foundation please visit www.wellpointfoundation.org.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Tony Felts, 317-439-6751
Tony.felts@anthem.com